Judiciary

79 Inmates Pardoned in Oyo Jail Decongestion

By Web News 426

By Jeffery Ahonmisi

The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima, has granted pardon to seventy-nine awaiting-trial inmates at the Agodi Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

The inmates were released on compassionate grounds, with charges ranging from fraud, unlawful sexual intercourse, and breach of peace to armed robbery, kidnapping, and conspiracy.

Some were also pardoned due to poor health.

One of the beneficiaries, Lekan Oroleye, had been remanded for allegedly absconding with a friend’s iPhone 12 Pro Max, which was later recovered and returned.

Another freed inmate, Timileyin Adeniran, explained he had been detained after a commercial motorcycle he was purchasing on installments was stolen from him.

The review also presented an emotional case where Michael Kolawole was remanded in place of his pregnant wife, who was involved in a neighborly dispute.

However, the proceedings took a dramatic turn when an inmate, Idris Oladosu, who is being tried for conspiracy, stealing, and unlawful society membership, fainted upon learning his case would proceed to trial.

Fellow inmates rushed to his aid.

Representing the Chief Judge, Justice Ladiran Akintola highlighted that the initiative was part of ongoing efforts to decongest the state’s overcrowded custodial centres through regular jail visits and case reviews.

Justice Yerima reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to expediting hearings for the speedy dispensation of justice.

The Controller of Corrections for the Oyo State Command, Mr. Ayoola Opadeji, represented by Deputy Controller of Corrections Timothy Oyelade, advised the freed inmates not to take their freedom for granted and to become positive members of society.

The pardoned inmates expressed gratitude to the Chief Judge and pledged never to return to a life of crime.

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Judiciary

38 Abolongo Inmates Freed by Oyo CJ

By Web News 319

By Jeffery Ahonmisi

38 inmates at the Nigerian Correctional Service, Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abolongo, Oyo Town, have been granted pardon by the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima.

The 38 inmates who received the leniency included those pardoned for stealing, burglary, and the breach of peace and on health grounds.

In her admonition to the released inmates, Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima, represented by Justice Ladiran Akintola implored them to make themselves useful to society.

Justice Yerima reiterated that the exercise is part of efforts to decongest the Nigeria correctional facilities.

In a remark, Controller of Corrections, Nigerian Correctional Service, Oyo State Command, Mr Abdulraheem Salami noted that he was glad about the number of inmates who regained their freedom.

It would be recalled that 31 inmates were pardoned by the Chief Judge, Justice Iyabo Yerima at the Agodi Custodial Centre, Ibadan on Monday.

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Judiciary

Oyo CJ Wants Effective Implementation of Community Service Sentencing Scheme

By Web News 651

By Dayo Adu

Stakeholders in the judicial sector have been charged to evolve mechanism that would ensure effective implementation of Community Service Sentencing Scheme so as to stamp out cases of absconding and repeated offenders.

The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima gave the charge at a workshop organised by Justice Development and Peace Commission, Ibadan

Justice Yerima, who explained that the community Service Sentencing had assisted in decongesting the correctional facilities by allowing convicts to serve their punishment term in the community, suggested that convicts should be made to serve in their community of origin so as to make them remorseful.

Represented by Justice Laniran Akintola, the Chief Judge, advocated strict monitoring of convicts serving punishment under community service option, especially, politicians and those convicted of financial crimes to ensure penitence, and there should be no swap cases. 

On his part, a former Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Mr. Seun Abímbólá explained that the judiciary had self funded the scheme since 2017 when it began operations in the state, urging the government to commit more budgetary allocation to enable the scheme serve it purpose in the state.

Earlier in an address of welcome, Director, JDPC, Ibadan, Reverend Father, Jerome Ajakaiye, whiling noting that the scheme had committed over one thousand offenders of minor offences to community service, said it had reduced over stretching of correctional facilities, outbreak of public health, cost of imprisonment and stigmatization of ex-convicts.

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Judiciary

Yerima Inaugurates Magistrate Courts in Oyo Communities  

By Web News 328

By Jeffrey Ahonmisi

As part of her efforts in reforming the judiciary in Oyo State, the Chief Judge, Justice Iyabo Yerima has inaugurated two chief magistrate courts in Okeho and Ilero in Kajola local government of the state.

Declaring the courts opened for use, Justice Yerima noted that the befitting structure would ensure prompt and easy access to Justice for members of the communities. 

Justice Yerima also stated that she would continue to strive hard until the judiciary is restored to its past glory.

In a remark, the Onjo of Okeho, Oba Osuolale Mustapha While expressing his joy at seeing the commitment of residents in putting up the structure appealed to the chief judge to site a high court in the community.

Oba Adeitan also maintained that with the inauguration of the chief magistrate court, crime and criminality would be curbed in the community.

On his part, the Elero of Ilero, Oba Wasiu Saka commended the state government for bringing the dividends of democracy to their doorstep.

Oba Saka particularly expressed joy that the Era of travelling as far as Ibadan to honour court cases was over with the inauguration of the Chief Magistrate Court in his community.

The Onjo of Okeho and the Elero of Ilero appealed to the state governor, engineer Seyi Makinde to rehabilitate the existing roads and also construct new ones for the state to tap the agricultural potentials of the communities.

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Judiciary

Oyo Swears in 15 Magistrates

By Web News 470

By Jeffery Ahonmisi

The Oyo State Chief Judge, Justice Iyabo Yerima has sworn-in fifteen new magistrates, saying it would enable the state judiciary to perform better.

The new magistrates are: Adebola Adedoyin, Olasumbo Kudirat, Raji Ayomide, Adelabu Victoria, Rufus Adeoluwa, Ige Oladipupo and Jimoh Kazeem.

Others are Amin Aminat, Adebiyi Aderemi, Atanda Moyosore, Fasasi Kabirat, Oladele Gladys, Ayanfe Kaosarat, Tolani Sofiat and Macus Omolara.

Justice Yerima, at the event held at the State High Court premises, Ring Road, Ibadan noted that the Oyo State Magistrate had, over time, suffered a shortfall in the number of magistrates.

She said there were only nineteen magistrates presiding in the various Magistrates’ Courts, spread over all the magisterial districts in the state.

According to her, there have been circumstances where a magistrate would preside over more than one magisterial district but expressed optimistic that the situation was set to change.

The Chief Judge however charged the newly appointed magistrates to exercise their authority with fairness, impartiality, honour and utmost integrity.

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Judiciary

OYHA Confirms Iyabo Yerima as Chief Judge

By Web News 550

By Mosope Kehinde

Oyo State House of Assembly, OYHA has confirmed the nomination of Justice Iyabo Yerima as the Chief Judge of the state.

The confirmation followed the recommendation of the House Committee on Public Petition and Judiciary after the due screening, pursuant to a directive of the House on Thursday, 6th April 2023.

At a plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr Abiodun Fadeyi, the chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions and Judiciary, Mr Mustapha said after a thorough screening of Justice Iyabo Yerima, the committee found her worthy of the appointment.

While addressing lawmakers on the floor of the House, Justice Yerima said she would do her best to ensure a better judiciary system in Oyo State.

Justice Yerima has been in an acting capacity since 16th January 2023 when Justice Muntar Abimbola bowed out of the Bench.

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Education

NYSC DG Solicits Support for Actualization of Scheme’s Trust Fund

By Web News 635

Director General, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Major General Ibrahim Shuaibu has called on relevant authorities in the country to provide necessary enablement for the actualization of the NYSC trust fund. 

The NYSC DG, Major General Shuaibu stated this during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2022 Batch A stream one corps members held at the permanent orientation camp in Iseyin.

Speaking through the Oyo State Coordinator, of NYSC, Mrs Grace Ogbuoegebe, Brigadier General Shuaibu said the NYSC trust fund when implemented would enhance the smooth operations of the scheme by addressing the challenge of infrastructure.

Major General Shuaibu said the fund would also boost the skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development programme established to make the corps members self-employed.

Major General Shuaibu who enjoined the corps members to eschew social vices and the use of social media in fuelling hatred, and fake news also said the social media should be used for national unity and development.

He added that corps members should get themselves vaccinated and adhere to covid 19 safety measures.

Brigadier General Shuaibu said corps members should abide by the rules guiding NYSC camping and avail themselves of skills acquisition and entrepreneurial development put in place by the scheme.

Radio Nigeria observed that 275 corps members were deployed from Lagos to Iseyin orientation camp while 1, 657  comprising 797 males and 860 females were posted to Oyo state  

The corps members were earlier administered oath of allegiance by the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Murktar Abimbola represented by Justice Iyabo Yerima.

Rotimi Famakin